The book is so different in plot than any of the film adaptations I have seen, and yet the characters are exactly the same. The witty dialogue and excThe book is so different in plot than any of the film adaptations I have seen, and yet the characters are exactly the same. The witty dialogue and exciting sword fights an obvious carry-over. I love good dialogue, and was not dissapointed to see the Musketeers produced here as I already knew them.
Some of the plot elements were a bit dated, which is okay but a bit of a yawn to read through, and the ending was an absolute surprise (compared to how it ends in the movies). I think one has to read this with an open mind, and not critique it as if it were made today, speaking mostly about Dartanian's bed trick with Lady De Winter. Oh man is it messed up and doesn't put him in a good light.
But thats to be expected when you read a book from another time, writing about another time even before that. Dumas writes well with a very big brush, and even warns us frequently throughout the book that thoughts of deceny were different in the times of the Musketeers, and must keep an open mind and not judge.
A fun book that I read on my phone while holding my napping newborn!...more
I enjoy Bond films from time to time, and have always been curious about Fleming's work. I received this audiobook from the library for my commYikes.
I enjoy Bond films from time to time, and have always been curious about Fleming's work. I received this audiobook from the library for my commute to work.
and....yikes.
The misogyny and light racism hasn't aged well. Not that Bond is really a feminist character in the first place, but I really didn't know how far he'd go with such a negative view of women. The book beyond that is fun, but when you're hero speaks more harshly towards women than his target, it kind of rubs off wrong. However, there are moments were Bond speaks more philosophically than we're used to in the films, and that was a bit refreshing and unexpected. ...more
The amount of solid detail in McCarthy's sentences is astounding. Simple and flowing with perfect accuracy that doesn't jar the rhythms of the sentencThe amount of solid detail in McCarthy's sentences is astounding. Simple and flowing with perfect accuracy that doesn't jar the rhythms of the sentences. I often read the paragraphs twice, the second time underlining my favorite or impressed parts, reading aloud to hear the writing as well as reading it. I was never bored, and having read The Road before this I realized I was having a much easier time following the text without any " " and , , , so I didn't have to struggle too much, but of course i had to stop from time to time when the sentences were longer and i had to break it into chunks to make sense of it. But i think that's the point. Slow down, chew your sentences.
So the main draw for me is the writing. But the story is good too, duh. It's a very simple story plot-wise but the way it's told brings with it many, many layers. ...more
I really wanted to give this four stars. Search For Spock is my favorite Trek film, so when I saw this at a bookstore I HAD to read it. In terms of moI really wanted to give this four stars. Search For Spock is my favorite Trek film, so when I saw this at a bookstore I HAD to read it. In terms of movie novelizations, the writing was exactly how I expected it to be: flat, with mostly filler and summation to fill all the gaps between the script and the novel. The story holds well in this format however, with at least a dozen scenes not in the final film (one of the reasons i've given this a third star instead of two), which was a pleasant surprise.
It was a fun read overall, though the author got in the way from time to time, but the book reminded me of what I loved about the film, so in that respect it succeeded. ...more
I don't know why but my family recommended this to me. i think I am too far removed from its demographic because i found myself skipping more and moreI don't know why but my family recommended this to me. i think I am too far removed from its demographic because i found myself skipping more and more the further along I was reading it. The dialogue and writing for the most part was not very impressive whatsoever, the story is somewhat interesting however not enough to hold my interest. ...more
I want to say I've read this in high school, however, I don't remember most of what I read in high school, and most certainly didn't know how to read I want to say I've read this in high school, however, I don't remember most of what I read in high school, and most certainly didn't know how to read back then (or, considering this is an audible audiobook, how to listen). But I'm marking here on Goodreads as if it's the first time.
I listened to this on the way to and from work, now that I have a commute. The rough/gruff narration would spark some life in me to get me home, or energy to face the work day ahead. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had read it a lot sooner, at an earlier age. But I could still see its quality and why it was rightfully considered a classic, of course. Also, a lot more violent than I was expecting. Wow lots of jugulars were ripped and such. I guess back in the day they didn't worry about children being exposed to such violence in what they read.
I've never owned a dog of my own, but damn does this make me wish I did. The bond here, the relationship between animal and man, is on an interesting display here. I know a large part of this tale derives from London's time as a gold prospector, and maybe, hopefully, the outright cruelty to animals prevalent in this book is outdated and no longer practiced, but such moments are not easy to stomach for some. Buck's loyalty isn't so sugar coated like a modern day children's movie, that it's more about the nature of such a relationship rather than a sentimental plot ploy. Buck had a life of cruelty and brutality and was balanced between the wild and the tame, the cruelty and the kindness.
One of my poet friends once told me how displeased he was at this book, and that it should be a work best avoided. I am glad Nick Offerman's performanOne of my poet friends once told me how displeased he was at this book, and that it should be a work best avoided. I am glad Nick Offerman's performance in this audiobook proved otherwise. I found it funny, interesting and at times, moving. It satirizes the chivalric genre yet at the same time plays into the genre in amusing ways, and criticizes 19th century politics and whatnot perfectly with each passing chapter. The ending is a little dark for how much of a light affair it is up to that point, which caught me off guard but I still loved the story overall. I love how Twain takes a jab at mysticism and cultism here for rationalism and science. Just beautiful. ...more
I tried giving this book four stars but it didn't seem fair. To be honest, I saw the movie first before I read the book. Yet, believe it or not, that I tried giving this book four stars but it didn't seem fair. To be honest, I saw the movie first before I read the book. Yet, believe it or not, that way of doing it worked far better than the other way around. The movie works fine with the book and they work as companions rather than complete rivals as most book/movie relationships are. That, and I really liked the movie. But that's something for another review.
The book itself is not only fascinating to read (for those not in the know, Bauby was most definitely paraplegic when he wrote this 132 page book, communicating only by blinking his left eye, syllable by syllable), but it's also beautifully written. The poetry of the words are light and fluffy, even when he's describing something rather depressing its scented in this aura of life, of something holy and worth every second of struggle. It's an inspiring thing to read, for certain. It's also entertaining, as Bauby isn't brain dead at all and his personality is flushed throughout the work. He frustratingly talks about the noises in the hospital and the fly resting on his nose never escaping--I won't spoil anything further.
Needless to say, it's a fine read. I'm not big on memoirs in general, but I think this book is a great exception. It is more than a memoir, it's a testament to human spirit and humanity's will to thrive in whatever conditions we may suddenly find ourselves in.
I remember watching the film back in the day and just being gutted, and have been meaning to read the book its based on for some time.
I like to thinkI remember watching the film back in the day and just being gutted, and have been meaning to read the book its based on for some time.
I like to think McCandless could have been somebody I knew. I've been around guys like that aplenty, to a point I was like that myself, needing an escape, needing adventure. He felt familiar, in the little bits of his character you get from the book.
I never could have gone on my own the way he did, and in that respect I have so much respect for him, a sense of admiration for such bravado, and feel a sense of loss at how his journey ended. I wonder, if he knew that his trip would be fatal, if he would have stopped it, if he even would have hesitated.
I couldnt do what he did cause I could never go out on my own. The lesson he learned in the end, about happiness being shared, I had known for a very long time, through my lucky fortune of knowing good people around me at an early age.
I think its wrong to fault Chris for what he did. For in the end, he influenced people's lives, following his wanderlust. I think the main fault would be to hold back on telling his parents that entire time, which no doubt adds to the tragedy of his story, an unfortunate missed oppertunity.
Its also interesting how much his story has touched people, connected with them. So much so that the infamous bus had to be relocated because too many people were attempting to follow in Chris' footsteps and were needing to be rescued, some died. I don't think Chris would have wanted that.
It goes to show how strong, universally, that drive to get away is, to face that mountain, to go on that hike, to escape. Civilization or society or whatever Chris and everyone who connects with him might feel the need for solitude, but its the honest, true connections between people that make life worth living. The sharing of time and happiness, that is the takeaway here, at least for me....more
A truly incredible book. Funny, charming, and shocking. The ending is kind of "huh?" inducing, as if Twain just ran out of juice and decided to get thA truly incredible book. Funny, charming, and shocking. The ending is kind of "huh?" inducing, as if Twain just ran out of juice and decided to get the thing sent to the publisher. There's a lightning to this book in its exactness towards dialogue and its people and their beliefs and viewpoints. There's also a violence in the novel that is unflinchingly told, yet nearly glossed over as if it's an everyday thing (which of course it is, unfortunately). Twain was poking fun at the time and not holding anything back. Of course the more obvious example is the use of the N word, which i read somewhere is totalling around 200 or more. You are supposed to be uncomfortable.
I got this nice hardcover copy dated 1918, it's solid green and in very good shape, adding to my reading experience. I wanted to reread the book since i hadn't since high school, and I was a terrible, terrible reader then, I'm a little better now.
I'm glad I decided to go down the river with Jim and Huck, it's a wonderful read. The way Twain writes about the river is someone who knows it by heart, which I know he did from his days working on the Ferry, described in "Life On The Mississippi", another wonderful book. ...more
I actually like this tale more than the trilogy. The trilogy gets bogged down in its own mythology, while the Hobbit is more story based and simplistiI actually like this tale more than the trilogy. The trilogy gets bogged down in its own mythology, while the Hobbit is more story based and simplistic. well, Tolkien-simplistic. There's a certain charm to the book that I great enjoyed, and even though for the most part I don't really enjoy reading fantasy novels, this one certainly got away. ...more
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